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Spam

spam and eel 1.2018You betcha… it is cans of SPAM

Good morning, there is a soft snow falling, the plow has been by, and I am preparing to head out.  May not go too far, if the snow picks up..  but need to get basics, like milk and eggs.

When was the last time you had Spam, have you ever had Spam?  It has been around for ages, I recall it being used for sandwiches.  Never on my shopping list, nor was it part of my Mother’s inventory for meals.  For years, it was totally lost to me.

Then I read an article about how Spam is a delicacy  in some countries, and in Korea and Hawaii, they make special dishes with Spam.  In fact, someone told me, there are areas in this world where they can’t keep it on the shelves, and it gets locked up because it is a favourite for shop lifters.  Hello?????? Spam??????

Curious me, I decided to look for it in our local Asian grocers.  I was really surprised at the variety offered. And now it is being made by other companies, using a different name, since Spam is trademarked.  Will wonders never cease.  Initially I bought one can, brought it home to try, and discovered that for a canned product, it had potential for integration into my style of dishes  And my husband could easily chew, eat and digest it without a problem.  Hello Spam!

As I sit here munching on my spicy Szechuan Spam  sandwich made with a Chinese sweet bun.. I am very content with this new discovery.

Trying something new is fun.  Leads to new possibilities, and a different taste to the palette, which in turn, makes for a truly “yummy” moment.  Early morning and I am already having a day of discoveries.

Hope you are also enjoying an exciting and adventurous day.  We are the captains of our own ships.  Or is it the chefs in our own kitchens.  Whatever, I know you get the drift.

Enjoy the day allow it to build to its fullest potential.  You will be blessed!

Oyashikiri

 

other tins.. eel, one is roasted and the other  in black bean sauce

the door, the fence

airplane 3

You can see it, you can hear it, but you just can’t get to it.  The door is there, it opens, but even when it is just a short distance away, there is no access.

Life holds such moments at every turn.  We can look at attaining access to the door, there is a way in, but the time, or the moment is just not right

airplane

You can walk closer, but the fence is still there, the door is still there, but at the moment in time while you are standing there …you can only look and contemplate. How badly you want access to that door, will determine what actions you will take.  Even if you obtain access to the door, what then, the operation of the plane is in someone else’s skill set, not yours.

Such situations when they occur, bring to our attention how well we do with waiting, being patient, and learning to appreciate that this is a lesson that is important.  We may not know why it is, not at the moment, we are looking through the fence… but as sure as night follows day, why the delay, or why the opportunity presented itself, will be known.

PL Precept #18 Each moment is a turning point

PL Precept # 5  One’s Self is lost by being Emotional

Being upset by something we have no control over, nor change is a waste of energy. Instead, be grateful you are alive to live the moment, and that in doing so, life is progressing, and from the experience, you will gain inner strength.. focus on the positives… the fence will stay there, but you will find a way, it is only at that one moment, that access is not possible.  If there is a fence, there is a gate, if there is a door, someone will eventually come to that door.

Change is the only constant in life.

Oyashkiri

 

Warning ##|\!

McDonalds 5.31.17I have stopped listening to the audio recording of Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosserr I simply could not listen to another CD.  Not because it was awful, the truth is, it is an interesting and well researched book/CD. “Part investigative journalism, part social criticism,” it was a New York Times bestseller and has been critically acclaimed.

On the back cover, it says ” a fine piece of muckraking, alarming without being alarmist”..  my sensibilities just couldn’t take anymore.. I got up to CD 5 and couldn’t listen to anymore.  “the dark side of the all American meal”  The laws in Canada are not the same as the USA, never-the-less…   There is a lot of common sense, and ah ha  moments. If you are not aware of this book, or this author,  then if you are  interested in something different.. please check it out.  I got mine at the public library, I thought it was something else, I really didn’t peruse it… I just thought it was a quick and easy…. NOT!

The news these days has been so repetitive, bleak and often shake your head, sad.. that I thought it would be a change.. NOT!

Time to find a feel good holiday movie to watch, or simply listen to music, if I thought I could go to sleep, wake up and the world would be different… nah.. that is wishful thinking…

Dickens project.11.25.17_001

Time to find a quiet world, where the air is clear, thoughts are able to chill, and time for a while, floats in a happy space.

Oyashikiri

 

2nd pic, SL Second Life

audio by Rick Adamson (excellent)

 

choices

IMG_2125

Today is a new day.  Yesterday was the past.  Once I live today, I will have crossed another time zone.

and  yes………. bus pass is still missing..

some days, just happen.

Smile on everyone! race the sun, it can be fun.

Oyashikiri

 

Monday – reflection

 

IMG_4257

I came home from church yesterday to find out that Keeper had gone missing.  She had slipped out the door before my husband could close it. He tried to follow her, but in his weakened condition, she proved to be more determined then he, and for his efforts he landed on the curb while she ran merrily on her way.  Of course, new to the area, she got lost.

As fate would have it, I had gone out without my cell.  He had no way to reach me, I was doing errands on my way back  home.  In brief, I was devastated, crushed beyond measure, every death in the last year, every parting that have visited my life this year, came crashing down on me.  The damn opened and I have never in my life known such emotional ripping apart of my “soul”  I cried, screamed, wailed, I scared myself.  Never in my life have I had such immediate pain and felt so ripped apart.

All I could think of was NOTHING, the grieving in my total being had taken over and all I could do was allow the emotions to express themselves.  Prayer, Pray Pray, Pray… in the  quiet spaces before the wailing began again & again, I called the church, the Humane Society, the Police…. my common sense prevailed, I did not use 911.. but called their main number.  my voice cracked I could barely speak my vocal chords were in shock, I’m sure.

Keeper is home.  Someone called animal control, they came brought her back to the shelter, checked her microchip, called the breeders*, who like knights in shining armour from days of old, jumped into their car and did their best not to speed into the city.  They  got the call at 3:15 or so,  the shelter closed at 4 pm.

It was a harrowing day, Keeper and I were in bed very early,  we slept till this morning, glued together in relief.  Poor Velcro, didn’t know what was happening around him, he is such a patient, and caring soul. The dogs commiserated happily when they met up.  Big brother was welcoming to his delinquent sister, he didn’t scold for the anxiety she unwittingly caused, in all four of her humans.

I don’t know why it was deemed necessary that I experience such a torrent of emotions, but… it did certainly allow for an emptying of any and all emotions I may have been holding back.  Life IS.

I am so grateful and thankful for the kindness of the strangers, that due to their caring  and good intentions, made the choices that brought Keeper home.

PL Precept #18  Each moment is a Turning Point

Oyashikiri

 

*Hounds of Freckashpeng

 

Thursday, week 2 of treatments

ompah

Nature has many faces, depending on where we are at a given time, what we will see and experience , are miles apart, different in every way, yet beautiful at the same time.

With the many prayers and healing thoughts coming our way, how can we not be enriched in every way, by the thoughtful and caring generosity of our friends.

PL Precept # 11  Always be with God.

PL Precept # 7  Everything exists in Relativity

Squally Cove, Shirley Keen

Oyashikiri

Thank you, I give thanks each day you are in our lives!

bottom photo, Shirley Keen (Squally Cove) (down under)

top photos, Ompah, Ontario (Q)

 

 

tired takes on new meaning

dragon soft

This was a picture a did a while back.  I titled it, Dragon Soft, you’ve  seen it before shortly after I painted it.  As sometimes happens, I paint something put it away, and don’t look at it again, till doing something else I come across it.

Today we are moving into several weeks into the journey of our cancer voyage.  Each day is a new day, nd every day, I am blessed with the kind words, and messages of friends who remind me that they are holding us in their prayers and sending healing vibes our way.

It is an amazing feeling to know that there is such caring and thoughtfulness surrounding us.  I appreciate it especially when out of the blue, I am struck down with an over-whelming feeling of “tired”.  It is like nothing I’ve ever known, and I really can’t describe it.  Everything just seems to grind to a halt.. and I NEED.. to sit down, close my eyes, and just wait for the moment to pass.

When my husband is out, I find I’m waiting for him to come home, just so I know he is safe.  I know that over the course of the next weeks, even months.. I will be inconsistent with my blog.  I beg your patience.  I am eternally grateful for your continued friendships and support.

Oyashikiri

pics_for_q-2

flooding

I remembered I had a picture that would give a visual on what some areas are like in our part of the world right now.  Many people have been and are dealing with flooding. Not just one or two areas, many places in the Province, not only cottage country, any where,  there is water.  Our lakes, and rivers are swollen and over flowing their banks. People are scrambling to save what they can.  There have been thousands and thousands of sand bags filled and carried to numerous destinations.  Still the water rises.

According to weather specialists, we’ve not seen the likes in decades, records have been broken.  The climate changes  the world is experiencing is all very real.

Please pray for those in need, and give thanks of appreciation to the many generous souls who have come forward to volunteer their time and help to those who are having to face the raging rising waters, and watch helplessly as their property disappears under the incoming tides.

PL Precept # 18  Each moment is a turning Point

PL Precept #16  All things progress and develop.

This too shall pass, meanwhile, pray…

Oyashikiri

 

Happy land

dragon, start of.. 4.30.17

Once upon a time a dragon came to visit.  “Oh” said I, ” what pretty colours you are! ”

“hmmmp” he said, “I’m just passing through”

So, I took a picture of him and posted him on Instagram, I went about my day and didn’t think much more about him.  I was having a “dragon” kind of day, and really wasn’t that interested in what he had to say.

The next day, I was busy with activities that I couldn’t put away.  Today was the day, so I had to be present and social in a “family” kind of way.  By mid day, after guests were gone and I was now back home on my own.  All I could think of was that I wanted to pray.  It was pouring rain, the clouds were bleak and gray, but nothing was going to stand in my way. The quiet, tranquility of the church, the peace of love and community, was drawing me, like a moth to a flame.

Silently I prayed, my words and thoughts, came, they flowed, they flew into the air, the heaviness, the pain, slowly drained away.  PL Precept # 11  Always be with God.

PL Precept # 5  One’s Self is Lost by being Emotional

PL Principle #2  I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather.  Rather I will always be creative and will look for short comings in my own thinking and actions,

When I came home, the dragon looked at me and winked.  The brat I thought.  I reached out and with   steady hand, and knowing actions, his friends came to light.

happyland 5.2.17

Just like that… the dragon smiled, his friends pranced and I was smitten with their charm.  My grin went from ear to ear… life is good when we believe and trust in God

PL Precept # 7  Everything exists in Relativity

PL Precept # 21 Live in Perfect Liberty

Oyashikiri

Monday 4.10.17

pic.Darren 2015

After a visit to one of the hospitals I’m  truly overwhelmed at the number of “sick” people contained in a maze of corridors and multiple floors.  This being only one of the large hospitals in this city.

In Japan one of the wellness programs they introduced was to spend more time with and around trees.  I guess this came out in the early 80’s  Japan in known for its spring time blossoms, people flock to the parks to take pictures and enjoy the refreshing ambiance of trees in early bloom.

Not spending a lot of time confined to a hospital, or home environment it is  an eye opener to visit one of these places.  Yes my Mother had been hospitalized, but my attendance there was focused on my Mother, and where I would have noticed or seen that the place was humming with activity and a lot of people, the thought came and went.  Today I had  occasion to have to track down my sister-in-law, she had been moved from the area I had been told she would be in.  The hospital is big it has grown and expanded over the years, even staff were not sure exactly where or how to get to certain rooms, didn’t help that you had to know if you were in the right “section” never mind floor.  Like a Chinese menu, there are  multiple choices.

Darren 2015 Monterey Bay Ca

I came away with the determination to work harder at obtaining and maintaining a good health report card.  Like most, I can cheat at sneaking in a dessert or extra starchy snack, now I have a visual reminder of where I do not want to be.

What about you…   are you setting attainable goals, then sticking to them?

PL Principle #8   I will not have a mind to be greedy

PL Principle # 2  I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather,  Rather I will always be creative and will look for shortcomings in my own thinking and actions.

Oyashikiri

pictures in this blog by- Darren Su

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